1000 Families To Get Clean Water By August 2012
Field Team Staff, Fatal, pulling a Biosand Filter through cornfields into a hidden community
The BSF team has lots to smile about finishing 2011. The program was restructured back in June and in the last six months, has seen a large amount of development and progress. The intended goal by the end of 2011 was to build and install 250 filters, which looked, at the time, to be a very ambitious figure given our relatively small production capacities. Despite that, end-of-year results showed 550 constructed. 300 of those have been installed for families in and around Leogane, and a further 200 in Port au Prince. The rest await delivery to excited beneficiaries.
The restructuring back in June saw the introduction of a completely Haitian-staffed field and production team. They have been producing filters around the clock while going out assessing communities, delivering training seminars, installing filters and conducting follow-ups to assist families in the use of their filters. The team knew that more was needed than just providing a filter, so it was decided to focus heavily on education, which is delivered via key messaging during training sessions, installations, and follow-up visits. The investment in education has brought strong results, with beneficiaries having higher usage rates and retention levels.
The summer months were spent running around Leogane installing the original target of 250 filters. Many obstacles were thrown in the way of the team coming in various forms: hurricanes, broken down trucks, flooded communities, etc. However, the team persevered and completed their target ahead of schedule, resulting in over 1000 people with long-term access to safe drinking water.
After installing the 250th filter on October 8th, the team was approached by Caritas Czech Republic, who were interested in partnering with us and their local chapter, Caritas Port-au-Prince, to install 200 filters in the mountainous region near Duval, a rural community above Port au Prince. The funding provided through this partnership gave us the opportunity to double our production from four filters produced a day to eight, allowing us to get more people clean water faster. All Hands Volunteers provided training to Caritas PAP local staff and sent three of our field team members to work with Caritas PAP in Duval to install the filters. They lived there for a month, serving as All Hands representatives to the Duval community, and as consultants for the Caritas team.
When the news came in October that All Hands would be continuing Project Leogane into 2012, with BSF as one of three key programs, we were excited, as we know the need we are meeting is immense, and our solution is a great one. The 2012 announcement sent the team into a whirlwind of planning. By looking back at what we’d accomplished in 2011, we knew where we exceled, and where we could improve. We took those key lessons and built an even more ambitious program for next year. Our goal? Install 1000 biosand filters before Project Leogane’s projected end date of September 1st, 2012. It’s going to take work, but we know we can do it. The team is ready, the need is there, and the thought of 5000 people drinking clean, safe water for years to come is more than enough incentive to make it happen.
Paddy Durrant
Biosand Filters Program Coordinator
All Hands Volunteers
Allan G Coles says:
Friday, February 10, 2012 at 5:17pm
Hi my name is allan coles i have done volunteer work as a volunteer worker . I just came home in april 2011 it was was very fulfilling to be able to do it. i worked very hard i find it very hard to except the amount of money required to work and do good for someone who is in need . so many hidden fees . thank you .